Lamp fixture construction

ABSTRACT

A lamp fixture having an encircling shade designed to receive only a long neck, reflector-type incandescent electric lamp is provided with an element that forms a restriction spaced from the fixture socket. The size and position of the restriction permits only the proper lamp to be screwed into the fixture socket, and prevents other incandescent electric lamps from being screwed into the fixture socket.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Jimmie G. McCarty,

2805 Bethany Road, Anderson, Ind. 46012 [21} Appl. No. 778,516 [22] Filed Nov. 25, 1968 [45 Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [54] LAMP FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 240/78, 240/41 [51] Int. Cl F2ls 1/06 [50] Field of Search 240/7801), 78(HAS), 78. 3, 3. l 41(SBU), 41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587,423 2/1952 Young 240/78(H)UX 2,639,368 5/1953 Pryne 240/78(H)UX 2,649,535 8/1953 Federm. .24()/78(HAS)UX 3,428,798 2/1969 Hilzen 240/3 FOREIGN PATENTS 787,771 6/1968 Canada 240/3 Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Assistant Examiner-Richard L. Moses Attorney-Jeffers and Rickert ABSTRACT: A lamp fixture having an encircling shade designed to receive only a long neck, reflector-type incandescent electric lamp is provided with an element that forms a restriction spaced from the fixture socket. The size and position of the restriction permits only the proper lamp to be screwed into the fixture socket, and prevents other incandescent electric lamps from being screwed into the fixture socket.

' P ATENTED JAN 19 l97l l2 FIG.3

INVENTOR. Jmtvue G. MCCARTV BY 'JEFFERS a} VouNc,

mac-3.4

A'Htovnays LAMP FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION My invention relates toan improved electric lamp fixture construction, and particularly to such a construction for electric lamp fixtures which are designed to receive only a long neck, reflector-type incandescent lamp.

Electric lamp fixtures having an encircling shade and a lamp socket mounted at one end for receiving an incandescent electric lamp of the long neck, reflector-type are very popular. Such lamp fixtures are frequently used in homes or other b l nasvnre e l llz PT the devices wxit mean and unusual lighting effects. Usu a lly, such la nip fixtures are designed to utilize only a long neck, reflector-type incandescent lamp. Asa user of such a lamp fixture in my home, l was not aware of the fact that such lamp fixtures are not intended to receive anordinary pear-shaped incandescent electric lamp which is not of the'long neck, reflector-type. When one of the long neck, reflector-type incandescent lamps burned out in my fixture, I simply removed the burned out lamp and replaced it with an ordinary incandescent lamp having the conventional pear-shaped bulb. After this conventional bulb had been screwed into my lamp fixture I had occasion to leave the lamp fixture turned on but with no one present. The conventional lamp generated a large amount of heat which could not be dissipated by the lamp fixture. After some time passed, the heat ignited the fixture paint and surrounding material, and produced a serious fire. It was not until after that misfortune that I learned that the lamp fixture was intended to receive only the long neck, reflector-type incandescent lamp.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide animproved construction for lamp fixtures intended to receive only the long neck, reflector-type incandescent electric lamps.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved lamp fixture construction that prevents an ordinary pearshaped incandescent lamp, which generates a large amount of heat, from being inserted in a lamp fixture intended to receive only a long neck, reflector-type incandescent lamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIQN Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in accordance with my invention by a lamp fixture which is provided with an element that forms a restriction within the lamp fixture. This restriction is shaped and positioned so that only the proper long neck, reflector-type incandescent electric lamp can be passed through the opening and screwed into the fixture socket. The conventional pear-shaped incandescent electric lamp can not clear the restriction and still be screwed into the fixture socket. Thus, my construction prevents the improper incandescent lamp from being inserted in a fixture intended to receive only the long neck, reflector-type incandescent lamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims. The structure and operation of my invention, together with further objects and advantages, may be better understood from the following description given in connection with the accomv ntim awi eliauhtqh;

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a lamp fixture which is designed to receive only a long neck, reflector-type incandescent electric lamp, an example of which is also shown in FIG. 1;

I FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a lamp fixture provided with one embodiment of the improved construction in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a lamp fixture provided with another embodiment of the improved construction in accordance with my invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a lamp fixture provided with another embodiment of the improved construction in accordance with my invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. I, l have shown a typical example of a lamp fixture 10 which is designed to receive only a long neck, reflectortype incandescent electric lamp 12 such as shown in FIG. 1. The lamp 12 has a long neck 13 that terminates in a threaded base 130, and a reflector surface 14 so as to direct as much of the heat as possible out of the front end of the lamp 12 and away from the fixture 10. The fixture 10 may have a variety of constructions, but typically comprises an encircling shade is formed of metal about a longitudinal axis. A structure or housing 17 is mounted at one end of the shade 15 for receiving a threaded electrical socket (not visible in FIG. 1). The front end of the shade 15 is open for receiving the lamp l2, and the shade 15 may be provided with any type of designs or openings 15a, depending upon popular preference.

While the fixture 10 is intended to receive only the long neck, reflector-type lamp 12, I have found that it is possible to thread or screw an ordinary incandescent lamp into the socket of the fixture 10. As mentioned above, I actually put such a lamp into a fixture, with disastrous or unfortunate results. Ac cordingly, I have invented an improved construction that prevents an ordinary lamp from being threaded into the socket of the fixture 10. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of my construction. In FIG. 2, a fixture 20 is provided with a baffie element or plate 21 of generally conical shape which tapers or converges toward the rear of the fixture shade to provide a restricted opening 22. This restricted opening 22 is shaped and positioned on a central or longitudinal axis of the fixture 20 so that only the proper long neck, reflector-type lamp 12 may be passed through the restricted opening 22 sufficiently far and be threaded into the incandescent lamp socket 23. The socket 23 is mounted at the closed end of the fixture 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The baffle element 21 may be shaped from any suitable sheet metal to form the generally cone-shaped configuration. After being inserted into the fixture 20, the baffle element 21 may be held by any suitable means such as friction, tabs, spot welding, threaded nuts and bolts, or selftapping screws. In any case, the baffle element 21 is positioned so that the large end of an ordinary pear-shaped incandescent lamp can not pass sufficiently far through the restricted opening 22 and be threaded into the socket 23 of the fixture 20. Thus, my baffle element 21 prevents the wrong type of incandescent electric lamp from being inserted into the fixture 20.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of my improved construction for preventing improper lamps from being screwed into the socket of a fixture 30. This embodiment comprises a baffle element 31 that is also generally conically shaped, but that is arranged so that the conical shape tapers or converges toward the front of the fixture 30 to provide a restricted opening 32. As described in connection with FIG. 2, the restricted opening 32 permits only the proper long neck, reflector-type lamp 12 to be threaded into the socket 33, but prevents the conventional pear-shaped incandescent lamp from being threaded into the socket 33 of the fixture 30. The baffle element 3! may be held within the fixture 30 by any of the means mentioned in connection with FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of my improved construction for preventing improper lamps from being screwed into the socket of a fixture 40. This embodiment comprises one or more metallic restricting posts 41 which are attached at the upper end of the fixture 40 and extend longitudinally toward the lower, open end of the fixture 40. The end of the post 41 is positioned so that the proper long neck, reflectortype lamp 12 can be threaded into the socket 43, but so that a conventional pear-shaped incandescent lamp can not be threaded into the socket 43. Alternatively or additionally, one or more metallic restricting posts 44 can be attached to the side of the fixture 40 and extend radially inward. The end of the post 44 is also positioned so that the proper long neck, e c r-tips a riL ks n 1 d., m9 !b Q9l 1 but so that a conventional pear-shaped incandescent lamp can not be threaded into the socket 43. The posts 41, 44 can be attached to the fixture 40 by any suitable means, such as weld- It will thus be seen that my invention provides an improved construction for lamp fixtures of the encircling shade type which prevents improper incandescent lamps from being threaded into the socket of the fixture. While such an arrangement is relatively simple, it provides a safer arrangement in that inexperienced persons can not screw an improper lamp into the socket of the fixture. While I have shown only four embodiments, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made. For example, the generally conical baffle elements 21, 31 may be plane or flat, solid or punched to provide a pleasing design, and may have various angles forming their conical surface. Also, various means for attaching the baffle elements may be used. A plurality of longitudinal posts 41, or a plurality of radial posts 44, or both, may be used. Therefore, while my invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the claimsv lclaim:

1, ln combination, a lamp fixture and a long neck reflectortype incandescent electric lamp: said lamp fixture comprising; an elongated encircling shade extending along an axis; said shade being open at one end for passing light, and having an electrical socket mounted along said axis at the other end of said shade with its threaded receiving portion facing said one end of said shade for receiving the threaded base of said lamp; a restricting element comprising sheet metal material arranged to provide a generally conical shape extending toward or away from the junction of the long neck and the reflector of said lamp and with a restricting opening positioned within said shade to form a restriction near said one end of said shade, said restricting opening surrounding in close proximity said junction when said lamp is received in said socket; whereby a long neck, reflector-type incandescent lamp base can be threaded into said electrical socket, but a conventional pearshaped incandescent lamp is prevented by said restricting element from being threaded into said electrical socket.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said restricting element is held within said shade by friction.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said restricting element is held within said shade by welding.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said restricting element is held within said shade by threaded elements.

5. in combination, a lamp fixture and a long neck reflectortype incandescent electrical lamp: said lamp fixture comprising;.an elongated encircling shade extending along an axis; said shade being open at one end for passing light, and having an electrical socket mounted along saidaxis at the other end of said shade with its threaded receiving portion facing said one end of said shade for receiving the threaded base of a lamp; a restricting element comprising at least one metallic post attached to at least one of said other end of said shade and the side of said shade, and extending from said shade to a point in close proximity to the junction of the long neck and the reflector of said lamp when said lamp is received in said socket; whereby a long neck, reflector-type incandescent lamp base can be threaded into said electrical socket, but so a conventional pear-shaped incandescent lamp is prevented by said restricting element from being threaded into said electrical socket. 

1. In combination, a lamp fixture and a long neck reflector-type incandescent electric lamp: said lamp fixture comprising; an elongated encircling shade extending along an axis; said shade being open at one end for passing light, and having an electrical socket mounted along said axis at the other end of said shade with its threaded receiving portion facing said one end of said shade for receiving the threaded base of said lamp; a restricting element comprising sheet metal material arranged to provide a generally conical shape extending toward or away from the junction of the long neck and the reflector of said lamp and with a restricting opening positioned within said shade to form a restriction near said one end of said shade, said restricting opening surrounding in close proximity said junction when said lamp is received in said socket; whereby a long neck, reflectortype incandescent lamp base can be threaded into said electrical socket, but a conventional pear-shaped incandescent lamp is prevented by said restricting element from being threaded into said electrical socket.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said restricting element is held within said shade by friction.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said restricting element is held within said shade by welding.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said restricting element is held within said shade by threaded elements.
 5. In combination, a lamp fixture and a long neck reflector-type incandescent electrical lamp: said lamp fixture comprising; an elongated encircling shade extending along an axis; said shade being open at one end for passing light, and having an electrical socket mounted along said axis at the other end of said shade with its threaded receiving portion facing said one end of said shade for receiving the threaded base of a lamp; a restricting element comprising at least one metallic post attached to at least one of said other end of said shade and the side of said shade, and extending from said shade to a point in close proximity to the junction of the long neck and the reflector of said lamp when said lamp is received in said socket; whereby a long neck, reflector-type incandescent lamp base can be threaded into said electrical socket, but so a conventional pear-shaped incandescent lamp is prevented by said restricting element from being threaded into said electrical socket. 